first time posting - I'm questioning my play

[aaronlowman]

Hi all! This is my first time on 2+2, but I plan on sticking around. I have a question regarding a hand I was involved in, and what I did. I am looking for your expert opinions on how this (odd) situation should have been played. Ok here are the basics of it: We were down to three players in a multi-table tournament at a casino I go to. The chip leader (player C) had about 90,000 in chips. Second stack (player B) was about 50,000. and I was small with about 35,000. I was in the large blind for 5,000. Player B called. Player A (small blind 2,500) folded. I have AQ diamonds. I raised to 15,000. Player B thought for a bit (I sensed weakness) and said, "OK, I will call you". He called frequently with marginal hands, so I was not too worried yet. As he was counting out the chips for a call, the dealer was burning and turning the flop. This is where it got strange and I got knocked out... As the dealer turned over 6c 9s 5c, Player B flipped up his hand. I am not sure what he was thinking (obviously not thinking) as we both still had plenty of chips left. There was an awkward pause and then he picked his cards back up saying, "I messed up, sorry". Player B had K7 of hearts. I wasn't sure what this meant for the hand, so I asked and the dealer said, "Nothing changes, your action sir." I figured I was still about a 2-1 favorite so I went all-in for my remaining 20,000 in chips. He shrugged and called. a blank hit the turn and an 8 hit the river completing his inside straight draw. The point of this is not simply to tell another bad beat story (if that is what this is), but to ask your opinion on what I should have done in this situation. It blew my mind that I knew (literally this time) his hand and bet all-in for a significant portion of his chips, and he knew that I knew and still called. It is still bothering me days later that I maybe did not do this right. If you have anything to share - please do. If you need more info about the situation I can give it. Thanks to you all! In the end I finished third and took home the most money I have won in a tournament to date (including the smaller ones that I have won), so I was happy, but disappointed at the same time. You all probably know what I am talking about. OK, talk to you soon - thanks again!

Aaron Lowman

[Neuge]

There is nothing wrong with that push at all. You were a 2:1 favorite before the flop and after the flop. Easy push with your hand and your stack.

Nothing to be ashamed of when you know that you're a 2:1 favorite after the flop with 3 players left. Push and be happy with your winnings. There was nothing you could do about it.

[37offsuit]

It's rare that you get your money in when you are 100% certain you have the best hand after the flop. 3 cards help him, the rest help you.

So pushing is not wrong in your position.

The only thing that would make me consider this situation differently, though, is that you have a HUGE advantage in your knowledge of the cards. He has lost his fold equity because you know you have him beat right now, so if he puts you all in, you can call.

You don't mention any ante, so I'm assuming that there is T32,000 in the pot when you pushed your remaining T20K.

Player B has to put in T20K to win T52K. He also gains tournament EV if he knocks you out, moving up the ladder, and puts himself on a more equal footing with the large stack giving him a real shot (if he can keep his cards hidden in the future) of winning first.

I think that given this unique situation, it's unlikely he'll fold here. He's embarassed. The last thing he wants to do is let you out play him here with something like JQ or JT because you know he missed the flop. The pot odds and tournament odds are pretty close for his call to be correct, anyway.

Still, I probably push and hope he does fold.

[vandalay]

In this situation, I would almost be as upset if he folded when I pushed. That being the case, I would check and make him put me all in... maybe he thinks I have J10 or similar. I want his money in the pot, and now that he knows that I know what he has, I think he might fold at the same time.

Worse case, your 2-1 favorite when he makes you push
Best case1, you win the pot when he folds
Best case2, you see something that completes his hand, and you fold

[cferejohn]

With less than 10x the BB, you probably should have been pushing preflop anyway. Other than that, you played it just fine. Certianly the river push is automatic (I suppose you could check-call, but since he knows you know his hand, that check is going to look a bit fishy.

Many cardrooms would put a penalty on the player for showing his hand while there were still un-bet chips. Don't know how that would have worked as he was moving to heads up at this point...

[paland]

This seems very fishy to me. Does the dealer know the other player? This is the kind of setups my sleazy card shark friends used to do. It is very easy to bottom or second deal if the dealer knows what his friend needs. Your opponent showed his hand, the distraction was made, you feel you have the edge, and they split a decent amount of money. Just a thought. This was not a normal mistake and you should have called management over instead of heeding the dealers advice.

[ACW]

Isn't the correct play to keep some chips back (perhaps 10k) till the turn, so you can fold the turn and not get knocked out if he gets an 8 or King on the turn? If the turn blanks, put the rest in. Going all-in on the flop would seem to give up some of your edge here.

[Derek in NYC]

I dont understand the dealer's action. At some cardrooms, an exposed hand is dead if the players are not all-in or if there are players to act afterwards.